The Bossier banner., 1887-10-20
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.


The spread of the Jersey cow in the
United States is something wonder
full. yet quite easy Of explanation.
1t needs scarcely to be said that her
popularity is due to the fact that she
meets a widely felt want and supplies
1t as no other cow has ever been able
to do. In England the Jersey cow
has been. and is. the rich mans pet;
in America she has become the poor
mans friend But phenomenal as
has been the growth of the Jersy in
terest it has by no means reached its
full development. Indeed the move
ment bids fair to attain proportions
without parallel in the history of
domestic animals. This de, elopment
Is predicted with entire confidence, be-
cause it is not dependent on any un-
natural or artificial blooming" but is
the healthful product of natural
growth.
Differentiation Is the process, If not
the law. in all progress. This funda-
mental truth is strikin gly illustrated
in the history, of farming in Tennessee.
In 1St0 the census showed Tennessee
TO be tho largest corn-growing State
In the Union; in 1850 tho largest hog
growing State; in 1860 the largest
mule-growing State; and there are
good grounds for believing that,
but for the war. in 1870 she
would have been the largest cattle
growing State. Now these different
records we're in no wise due to fickle-
ness among the farmers or change of
crops. On the contrary, more corn
was grown in 1850 than in 1S40; more
hogs in 1860 than in 1850 In 1910 the
corn was either distilled into whisky
or fiat-boated to New Orleans, while in
1850 it was fed to hogs. and they were
driven to the cotton plantations South.
So in 1860 q large part of the corn was
fed to mules, to be sent South also. In
the meantime, every other branch of
farming was growing rapidly.
More grass was grown, more
cattle were reared and more
wheat sown. All of these changes
were but steps in differentiation. BY
division of labor the progress was
achieved. The movements were all
in the direction OF specialization.
Stockmen were coming to be known
by their favorite animals as sheep
men, hog-men, mule-men, Shorthorn-
men or thoroughbrsd-men. OF course,
after the war we all had to begin at
the bottom. so far as material re-
sources went, but we began at the top
SO far as stock experience went So
that as soon as we had fixed up our
fences" we took up the line of march
just where it had been left
off. Now, stock-farming is
great advance upon grain growing
or the keeping of flocks and herds In
that 1t requires more forethought the
exercise of more judgment and con-
stant attention in more details. But
stock-farming itself in the process of
development divides into a number
of distinct branches, of which dairy
farming is the most advanced. because
the most specialized. Dairy-farming
was unknown in Tennessee before the
war, outside of few small dairies
near Nashville and Memphis Now
the business is fast attaining
prominence and is not confined to
the vicinity of cities. Creameries are
springing up in all parts of the State.
a L.
mand for good butter cows. Nothing
meets this demand like the Jersey
COW. Hence it comes that the Jersey
COW is prime factor in this latest
step in agricultural progress in Ten
nesse. Here, too, we find an explana-
tion of the fact that the business of
breeding Jerseys has SO constantly
and so steadily increased in Tennes-
see.
+ What Is true of Tennessee is to q
certain, though less. extent true of
the most of the Southern States
The growth Of dairy-farming Is one
of the most constant features that
works the wonderful development of
all parts of the South, of which mag
azines and newspapers are having SO
much to say of late And wherever a
dairy farm Is started sooner or later
the Jersey cow comes in to take her
place as queen of the dairy.
But only respectable minority of
farmers in Tennessee or elsewhere in
the United States are specialists. The
great majority still, of necessity,
follow mixed husbandry. This will
continue to be the case for many
years to como. Each such farmer
has need to keep one or more cows
for milk and butter, and raises during
the year one or more calves for sale.
Here lies the widest field for the
spread of Jersey cows However
great she may be in the dairy it is as
the family cow that she most excels.
Here she is absolutely without COM
petitor. Once introduced she be-
comes henceforth an indispensable